DPS say it’s time to compare your care

Aged care consumers across Australia are set to see the next step in consumer choice following the recent launch of the DPS online Comparison Marketplace pilot.

Launched on 21 March, with the support of a select group of aged care providers, the new project aims to expand the company’s current aged care services website – AgedCareGuide.com.au – by allowing consumers the opportunity to compare care providers in one place.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DPS, Mark Ogden, says the multi platform media organisation is excited by the launch of the pilot initiative, as well as the feedback being received on their expansion.

“The introduction of consumer ratings and a marketplace into the aged care sector is inevitable, and DPS is best positioned to deliver it given the fact that the company’s market leading website – AgedCareGuide.com.au – already has 1.6 million unique annual visitors and is the most trusted database in the industry,” Mr Ogden says.

“An extensive consumer research project that we ran late last year provided us with the clarity and urgency to successfully establish these solutions; and since then we have been actively collaborating with the leading industry associations to ensure consumer needs are matched with providers ability to service, enabling the whole of the aged care industry to benefit.

“The feedback we have received on the expansion so far has been very positive and we are working with some of the largest and most innovative providers in Australia who are signed up and are part of the pilot.

“With the pilot, and ultimately the final marketplace product, provider profiles will include a ‘Compare the Market’ action, which will allow consumers to enter the basic details about their care requirements, hit enter, and their details will be sent to multiple providers who will be able to meet their need.

“The summary of all responses, including cost, is sent back to the consumer where they can easily compare and decide if they want to proceed with any of the options presented to them.”

Mr Ogden says the launch of the pilot, and the impending official launch, of the marketplace is “just the beginning” for the company and it’s aged care consumers.

“It’s what our consumers have clearly told us they want and we have other exciting developments soon to be launched that will complement the Marketplace.

“This will in-turn deliver the most dynamic digital platform in the aged care sector so I’d recommend that everyone ‘watch this space’.”

DPS is currently on track to launch the full Comparison Marketplace nationally at the end of April, 2018.

This article was originally published on agedcareguide.com.au on 28th March 2018